Aphelios Software vs Xero UK
Xero is superb accounting software - but it is not a POS system, an inventory system or a CRM. Aphelios covers the daily operations Xero was never designed for, and integrates with Xero for your books.
Different Tools
Xero for the books, Aphelios for the shop floor: use them together
POS+Stock
Xero has neither built in
Free Plan
Aphelios from £0, Xero from £16/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Aphelios Software | Xero UK |
|---|---|---|
| POS System | Built-in Stripe POS: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, QR checkout | Not included: needs a separate POS add-on |
| Inventory Management | Full stock tracking: variants, barcodes, low stock alerts, supplier history | Basic stock quantities on Standard and Premium only |
| Barcode Scanning | Phone camera + Bluetooth scanner, label PDF printing | Not available |
| Multi-Location Stock | Real-time sync across unlimited locations | Not available |
| Purchase Orders | Full PO lifecycle, supplier management, price history, PDF export | Purchase orders via paid add-on apps |
| CRM & Lead Management | Full CRM: leads, deal pipeline, quotes, proposals, contact history | No CRM: separate subscription required |
| Accounting & VAT | Sales and inventory reporting; syncs to Xero or QuickBooks for the books | Best-in-class: bank feeds, reconciliation, MTD VAT filing |
| Invoicing | Built-in invoicing from sales and stock movements | Full invoicing and quotes (a core strength) |
| Hardware Required | None: works on any phone, tablet or computer | Software only: no POS capability at all |
| Data Hosting | UK hosted on Microsoft Azure, GDPR compliant | Global cloud hosting |
| Free Trial | 14-day free trial: no card needed | 30-day free trial available |
Why Choose Aphelios Over Xero?
Xero is built for bookkeeping. Aphelios is built for running a business.
POS Without Add-Ons
Xero cannot take a card payment at the till. Pair it with Square, SumUp or Zettle and you add another subscription and another set of fees. Aphelios has a built-in Stripe POS with QR checkout: no card machine, no extra monthly cost.
Real Inventory, Not a Stock Count
Xero tracks basic quantities on its higher plans. Aphelios gives you barcode scanning, multi-location sync, low stock alerts and purchase orders: everything a business selling physical products actually needs to avoid stockouts and dead stock.
CRM Included
Xero has no customer relationship management: no deal pipeline, no quotes and proposals, no customer history. Aphelios includes a full CRM with field sales support, so your team sells from the same system you run your shop from.
Pricing Comparison
Xero looks cheap until you add the POS, inventory and CRM it does not include. Aphelios replaces the whole stack for one flat fee.
Aphelios Free
£0/mo
1 user · Core platform access
- Inventory, sales & barcode scanning
- Stripe payments included
- No hardware to buy
Aphelios Starter
£29.99/mo
Up to 2 users · Full platform access
- Inventory, sales & barcode scanning
- Purchase orders & multi-location stock
- Xero / QuickBooks sync
- Stripe payments included
Xero Starter
From £16/mo
Accounting only · no POS, stock or CRM
- Accounting, bank feeds and MTD VAT
- No POS: add Square or SumUp, £0-£30/mo + fees
- No real inventory or purchase orders
- No CRM: another subscription needed
Typical stack with Xero plus POS, inventory and CRM add-ons: £50-£167 per month. Aphelios covers all of it from £0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Run the Shop Floor, Not Just the Books
Get POS, inventory, purchase orders, CRM and payments in one platform - and sync to Xero for your accountant. Start your free trial today.
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